Morocco's press framed Ceuta as a sovereignty question, Algerian media accused Rabat of "weaponising" migration, and Tunisian social media responded with dark humour, as the region's own economic and political crises remained in the background.

Videos of migrants pouring into Spain’s Ceuta territory have gone viral on X, prompting criticism from Elon Musk and European politicians critical of migration.

The border has now been reinforced and tens of thousands of people have since reportedly returned to Morocco voluntarily.